Hibernian manager David Gray has warned his players that Ross County are far from a typical League One side ahead of their Premier Sports Cup quarter-final this weekend. Gray highlighted the Staggies' recent top-flight history and strong start to the season as major challenges for his team.
"Ross County are a Scottish Premiership side who have dropped down, but they've started the season really well, and there will be definite challenges within there, because there's a lot of experience and talent at Ross County still," Gray said. He pointed to the experience retained at the Global Energy Stadium. "They've retained players that have played in the top division. They’ve got a Scottish Premiership manager, a very experienced backroom staff."
County's strong start
Ross County currently sit top of League One, having taken 16 points from their opening six matches. Their last outing was an emphatic 8-0 victory over Queen of the South, a result that showed the attacking firepower manager Stuart Kettlewell has at his disposal. That win followed a 0-3 defeat to Hibs in a league fixture just days earlier, a result that will add extra spice to the cup rematch.
Despite back-to-back relegations that saw them drop from the Premiership, the club's ambition remains clear. The aim is to win League One this season and then target the Championship, a path built on a core of players who operated in Scotland's top division for over a decade.
The Hampden prize
The prize for the winners on Saturday is a place in the semi-finals at Hampden Park. Hibs have not reached the national stadium since the 2023-24 Viaplay Cup, and they arrive in Dingwall desperate for a positive result. They lost the first Edinburgh derby of the season and suffered a painful away defeat to St Johnstone on Sunday, compounding an early exit from UEFA Conference League qualifying.
For County, the cup represents a chance to measure themselves against top-tier opposition and continue a positive momentum. Their recent form across all competitions reads two wins, one draw, and two defeats from the last five.
Kettlewell's side must quickly shift focus after the cup tie, with a League One trip to face ninth-placed Cove Rangers scheduled for next Saturday. The full schedule of upcoming games is available on our fixtures list. The squad that delivered the eight-goal thrashing will be looking to carry that confidence into a cup clash where they have been labelled the dangerous underdogs by their Premiership opponent.
The original report is at edinburghnews.scotsman.com
